Four fast bowlers no concern, says Kumble

Anil Kumble believes India can handle a four-man pace attack if Australia choose to overlook spin in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The prospect of the raw speed of Shaun Tait backing up the existing trio of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson might be less attractive to India than Brad Hogg but Kumble was confident it would not be a major problem.

Tait has never played India in a Test or a one-day international and he is keen to test them with his speed and bounce. A few of their senior players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, came up against Tait in a tour match when they last visited Australia in 2003-04 and while he was not the dominant bowler in that match he has matured since then.

"He's definitely a good fast bowler," Kumble said. "He's a bit new in the sense he has a very different action compared to other fast bowlers. We have to take it as it comes. If they play four fast bowlers, then fine, I think we have the batting capabilities to handle whatever comes our way."

Kumble said regardless of which attack Australia chose - both Hogg and Tait are in their 12-man squad - they would be difficult to defeat at home. The 2003-04 tour ended in a 1-1 draw after Shane Warne did not play due to his drugs ban and Glenn McGrath missed the four games with an ankle injury.

"It's very hard to replace someone like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath," Kumble said. "It's never easy. They've been the leading bowlers for Australia for a long time. Having said that, they still have a good attack and Australia's always tough to beat. But we have the qualities to do that."

India will at least be spared an all-pace attack in their three-day tour match against Victoria at the Junction Oval starting on Thursday as the state's two leading fast bowlers, Shane Harwood (groin) and Gerard Denton (ankle), are out injured. Brad Hodge's back problem, which kept him from playing the Twenty20 international against New Zealand, will be assessed on Wednesday.

Victoria squad Nick Jewell, Rob Quiney, Brad Hodge (capt), David Hussey, Michael Klinger, Andrew McDonald, Aiden Blizzard, Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade (wk), John Hastings, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Allan Wise.